A recent and thought-provoking discussion on Reddit has resonated deeply with the travel community, challenging the very purpose of wandering the globe. The conversation began when a seasoned traveller, after seven years of constant journeys, declared he was stopping. His reason? Travel had devolved into a mere "box of ticking experiences"—a relentless pursuit of countries logged and cities "done" that offered little beyond a fleeting dopamine rush.
The Core Question: Passion or Purpose?
The original poster posed an uncomfortable question to fellow wanderers: Has anyone actually found meaning in travelling, or is it just a passion? The flood of replies that followed did not provide a single answer but revealed a spectrum of raw, honest motivations that define why people leave home.
For many, the justification was beautifully simple and devoid of grand philosophy. One user stated bluntly, "I just want to eat all the food the world has to provide." Another self-described nihilist saw no inherent meaning in life or travel but found the act enjoyable, which was reason enough. The metric for these travellers was pure, unadulterated fun.
Travel as Relief, Survival, and Human Connection
For others, travel served a deeper, more personal function. It was a tool for survival and mental relief. One commenter shared that exploring new places was the only thing that kept them going, citing the quiet satisfaction of adding another country to their list. Another admitted to feeling more depressed at home and used each trip as a chance to temporarily become someone else.
A significant number of respondents found the essence of travel not in landmarks, but in people. The fleeting connections in hostels, conversations that lasted a night, and the strangers who became temporary companions were the magnetic forces that pulled them back onto the road. Some framed travel as a hobby—something that breathes, lies dormant at times, and is returned to when the craving strikes.
The Pushback: It's Not Travel, It's Your Approach
A compelling counter-argument emerged from the thread. Several commenters suggested that if travel feels hollow, the problem might lie not with the act itself, but with the approach. They turned the question around, asking pointedly: "Who are these boxes for?" One traveller explained they never sought 'meaning' but experienced cultures, food, and languages purely for personal curiosity, with no audience or scoreboard.
This perspective was elaborated in a standout response that championed slow, intentional travel. This traveller described deliberately rejecting the rush—making multiple visits to the same country, avoiding frantic itineraries built for social media, and letting days unfold without pressure. They travelled with just a plane ticket and a few booked nights, leaving ample room for chance encounters and unplanned detours.
They argued that it was in these spontaneous moments—sitting in cafés, meeting people in hostels and journeying together—that travel transformed from consumption into genuine presence. The bluntest conclusion offered was: If you're just ticking boxes, that's on you.
The Final Takeaway: Travel Magnifies What You Bring
By the end of the vibrant discussion, the original question remained unanswered in a universal sense. The collective wisdom pointed to a more nuanced truth: Travel does not bestow meaning on its own. Instead, it acts as an amplifier, magnifying whatever you carry with you—be it restlessness, curiosity, loneliness, joy, or a simple hunger for life.
For some, that magnification is enough. For others, it prompts a deeper search. The real clarity, as the thread suggested, may come not from quitting travel or blindly copying others, but from honestly asking oneself: Why am I travelling at all? The author of the original article, Panchali Dey, a traveller from North East India, shares her own reason: the serene vibe, the people, and the thrill of the unknown yet to be discovered.
